Incubating Crested Gecko Eggs With SuperHatch

10/11/2016

by Reptile Specialty

As Crested Gecko breeders, we are always on the lookout for the best process to increase our successful hatch rate. There are three main factors to consider when setting up an incubator or container for your Crested Gecko eggs — humidity, oxygen, and temperature. SuperHatch is a clay media that has been calcined creating a porous surface area that retains water longer — easing your humidity concerns. Here I will outline how I incubate eggs and the different containers used for incubating Crested Gecko eggs.

How to setup a container with SuperHatch?

Crested Geckos are a semi-tropical species that will benefit greatly from consistently high humidity. You will need to soak the media prior to use. Using a container or sieve, fill the amount of media required to reach 3/4 of the container your eggs will go into. Since the media will take up such a large portion of the container the larger, the better container should be chosen for a proper oxygen exchange. Soak the Calcined Clay for five to ten minutes and strain the water until there is little to no dripping. This is your starting point and perfect for proper humidity.

What is proper ventilation of an incubator for crested geckos?

The proper oxygen exchange with Crested Gecko eggs is a delicate balance. Too much ventilation and eggs will dry out and dent. Too little oxygen and eggs will die and mold over. The larger the container the better. Since you will be filling the container with 3/4 of SuperHatch incubation media, the larger the container, the more air flow and greater oxygen exchange.

What is hatch rate and how do you calculate it?

Hatch rate in reference to incubation is determined by the amount of
eggs that hatch divided by the total of eggs deposited into the
incubator. If you have a total of 14 eggs from a single Crested Gecko
and 11 successfully hatch you will divide 11 by 14 for a 78% hatch rate.